I suppose that’s because years of, shall we say, less than complimentary or positive media profile for the city has made the rest of the country either wary or weary of what Liverpool is all about. One local commentator is not alone in noting the ironic turn of events that has seen the creator of Brookside – responsible (albeit in a fictional drama) for perpetuating the city’s “scally” image for so long – turn into a Mr Fixit front-man for everything from Ringo to La Princesse.

A lot of very good things have come out of 2008 for Liverpool and the rest of our region. Image and perception are critical – and we are now deemed to be a city on the up with a vibrant and lively approach to everything from business to culture.ŠQuite how we turn this new-found status to our advantage remains to be seen. We’ve said it’s a good job the prevailing economic climate has blown in the last quarter of 2008, not the first. But the uncertainty we face going forward is serious.Š

All theŠ lavish street spectaculars in the world, or the finest art collections passing through our galleries, will count for little if somewhere like Jaguar Land Rover or Vauxhall, at Ellesmere Port, do not survive the crisis unfolding in the world’s car industry.

So who knows what 2009 holds for businesses on Merseyside?Š In the current circumstances, I’d say none of us know for sure.

So that just leaves me to wish you and your families a happy and prosperous 2009.

MATT JOHNSON is chairman of Mando Group